This is the @tribesteemup biweekly question, which is almost an answer to the question in itself. The Tribe is a wonderful example of awareness. We are all about supporting one another in mutually beneficial ways. We are aware of our interdependence. We are aware of our dependence on the earth and her beautiful unconditional love for us. We are aware how important it is for all of us to be free and also to commit to nurturing each other.

Here’s an awesome infographic of our values, commitment and awareness! This was written up by the wonderful @kennyskitchen, founder of @tribesteemup, and made into an infographic by @hungryhustle.

Pay attention!

Many years ago I had a teacher by the name of Will Rockingbear. One of his most frequent teachings was, “There are three rules in life. Pay attention. Pay attention, and pay attention.” Will believed that awareness is everything. Only when we are aware can we hear the whispers of Creator. Only when we are aware can we hear the call of mother earth. Only when we are aware can we hear our own hearts.

There are messages coming in all the time. We only have to pay attention. We have to be aware of our surroundings, our feelings, our sixth sense, our bodies, our friends and family, and the natural world. The first message for a shift to be made comes in a whisper. If we are aware and hear the whisper, we can avoid the spiritual 2x4. Are you familiar with the spiritual 2x4 method of learning? I am a proficient! I know all about not paying attention to the whispers until they get loud enough to knock me from my feet.

Messages coming from all around

Of course there is some action as part of that awareness. Sometimes we hear the whisper but don’t make the shift, for whatever reason. Me? I’m quite stubborn! And pretty willful. The truth, though, is that the whisper is rarely wrong. That whisper is shifting your life and the lives of others in a direction that will delight everyone involved. You know how it is when you finally get through some really difficult bit of your life just to realize that it all turned out perfectly and you’d never have it any other way. So being aware isn’t just hearing. It’s also trusting. And acting.

When the earth is feeling a little overburdened, she also whispers. Her love never wanes even the tiniest bit. She is the ultimate ideal of a mother’s unconditional love, and she gives to us without any expectation of return, but she must care for herself, so she speaks louder to get our attention. I believe we are getting close to the it’s-10-pm-oh-my-God-why-the-hell-are-y’all-still-up-causing-trouble-I-need-a-stiff-drink version of mother earth’s love. Here again, we must be aware and listen and also take action.

The same goes for us. Our hearts and spirits whisper to us all the time. A little more of this, dear. A little less of that, dear. We need more rest. We need a little space. We need a reset. We need community. We need peace. When those whispers get louder, unpleasant things can happen - from nightmares to serious illness.

Being aware of each other is also important. It’s tricky business, though. We’re tricky creatures, aren’t we? It is important to not allow awareness to slip into codependency or caretaking. Being aware of another’s emotions is one thing. Managing those emotions for them is quite another. Taking those emotions as your own is also a dangerous business. Being aware means knowing what’s going on while still holding onto yourself.

Shhhhhh

All these things require we have periods of time where we stop and are quiet. In this world, there is so much busyness, so much chaos, so much unnecessary noise. Is there an entity or entities out there whose interest is keeping us occupied simply so we can’t actually be aware? Maybe. Probably. However, I think even that is a distraction. We have to focus right now on the solution, not the problem, and the solution is to stop being busy all the time and give ourselves more time to listen and feel and think.

I’m not one of the “never watch tv, throw out all electronics, and go back to 17th century living” crew. The world is intense right now. Sometimes being aware is excruciatingly painful. It’s ok to check out sometimes. If I get close to people I can totally feel their emotions, so sometimes I have to close myself off and check out. I can’t feel it all the time. So, do your thing and don’t feel bad about it. Movies, silly youtubes, liquor, weed, whatever. As long as you’re not living in checked out land, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with shutting reality away for a bit.

That said, if we are ever to move past this time of chaos and darkness, we must allow ourselves to feel it at least sometimes. We must be still long enough to hear it. We must turn off the distractions long enough to see it. I can feel we are so close to so many solutions. If we pay attention we will hear and see the answers.

If we can be aware, trust, take action, and bring those ideas, thoughts, feelings, and actions together with others of like mind, we can make a difference. I think it is the most powerful possibility of Steemit.It is made more powerful yet when we are willing to hear others and let go of the need to be right about our own conclusions. I see so many beautiful things going on here. Keep listening, and remember!

Pay attention

Pay attention

Pay attention

Much love, y’all!

As always, all pics are mine or pixabay unless otherwise noted.

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